Will This Sound Card Be OK?

Same here.
 
A sound card used to be a thing inside your computer that looks roughly like a large card that you stick into the motherboard. Today many sound "cards" use a firewire or USB connection and are inside a nice looking box with some dials and buttons. The principle is the same.
 
For an entry level card suited for pro audio software, M-Audio and Edirol are worth a look. Expect to spend at least around 100 to 150 bucks for something simple. Going more expensive results in more options connection wise and better sound quality. Pro-level cards can easily cost 1000 bucks and far upwards of that, though there is obviously a large area in between with both options and sound quality.

M-Audio has an M-Track which is 100 bucks and has all the basic connections. I have an older but slightly higher range M-Audio card that I use with my laptop and am not ecstatic about the sound quality, but it will definitely let you play with Sonar a lot better than your current system does.

Ok, yeah that's exactly the kind of thing you don't want. ;)
It's a multimedia card and probably no better (or worse) than what's inside your computer right now. You shouldn't be looking for anything that says "multimedia" or "surround". What you want is a good card for pro audio software. They should be advertising with stuff like "ASIO drivers", "low latency" and "direct monitoring".

The advantage of the 2nd unit, the Roland Duo capture is that it has proper microphone preamps with combo connectors that let you connect, mics, Hi Z guitars and other sound sources.

The cheaper unit is just that. It basically has the same sort of connectors as your on board card which is usually an indicator of what you're getting.

Remember too that to connect speakers they'll have to be either powered (inbuilt amp) or need an amplifier connected in between the sound card and your speakers.

CoffeeTime

SanderxpanderOk, yeah that's exactly the kind of thing you don't want. ;)
It's a multimedia card and probably no better (or worse) than what's inside your computer right now. You shouldn't be looking for anything that says "multimedia" or "surround". What you want is a good card for pro audio software. They should be advertising with stuff like "ASIO drivers", "low latency" and "direct monitoring".

 
OK Thanks a lot
 

wizard71
For instance

http://www.gear4music.com...9_plid__kword__match__

If you want midi too

http://www.gear4music.com...SB-Audio-Interface/MNW


But it depends on connections you want/need etc

Bibs

Hmm, £60 or £120... I just can't decide (I'm kidding - it'll be the £60 ones!)
 
thanks wizard, would I be able to connect my speakers to those?
(they are not usb, but the little green connector)
 
thanks
 
 

as you mentioned before you will only have a midi keyboard, you need to shoot at the second, more expensive one - sorry!

I'm a big fan of the Emu cards and have an internal 0404 PCI-e card.
They are a little more pricey but if you're ok with used cards you can pick them up pretty cheap here on Ebay
 
Steve

I have never regretted spending a few extra dollars (pounds for you, I guess), to get better equipment.  Even if you are not "serious" but having fun.  The idea is to have fun, not get frustrated when you or someone brings over a real mic or guitar and you have to run to the local music shop to pick up an overpriced cable (those are some of the markup leaders at music shops).  And fooling w/ it for hours to get it to work.  Then you can't lay down the track because your cheap card's latency is too much for the guitarist to work with.  And that cutie you got over to sing thinks yor're a dork.  Been there, done that.  Kinda takes the fun out the experience.
 
You should be able to find a "real" interface/soundcard that is the same price or a little above a consumer card.  Save yourself some headache.  There are plenty of those trying to get into music production w/o spending time on the basic ingredient.  Like buying a used car w/ a blown cylinder.  It doesn't matter how much you saved, you are going to have to replace the engine if you want to drive it more than a few blocks.

They are entirely separate devices. You should hook up each device to an individual USB port on your computer. Don't think of them as needing to hook them up. You play midi into Sonar, so you need a midi keyboard. You want Sonar to play sound, so you need a soundcard.

be aware that the saffire only has mic pre's etc and you'd need to use both ports for a stereo sound module like I did..  I did ask the bloke in DV and found out this "issue" later. it's ok. BUT it's limited in expandability wise.
 
with regard to buying have a look at various pro audio companies in the UK... also buy an asio card..
 
guitar guitar, gak , absolute , dolphin,dv247, and more..
 
decide how many in's and outs you need.. yes some cards are more expensive... but think 2+ year on where you will be, so you don't need to rebuy again
 
maplin's is like US version of tandy/radio shack, they sell components and other bits.. but not the best for pro audio tbh.
 
 
 

If you sometimes use headphones, you may not be happy with an interface that doesn't have a separate headphone volume control.
 

CoffeeTime
Thanks a lot wizard71,
 
OK, the Roland DUO-CAPTURE EX USB Audio Interface looks favourite at the moment, but I can't buy anything til I have my audio settings right, because I am still stuck with no sound (details on my other thread here).
 
Hopefully I can sort that out, then buy the new interface.
 
thanks

Hey CoffeeTime
don't worry, we have all faced the seeming mountain that is trying to set up Sonar for the first time when we know zilch about PC music/soundcards/computer music etc. you will get there.
don't bother trying to get your ViA onboard soundchip working (on your other thread) as these settings will all change when you get your new soundcard/audio interface anyway.
you'll get plenty of advice and even some support up here, have a look at the Coffee House and Songs forum for some more laid-back chat...i don't post too much on here any more but back in my early days I had a lot of help from this forum.
good luck and let us know when you get your new interface and the fun will begin!
Mark